Month: December 2025

Poor Hay Doesn’t Have to Equal Poor Livestock Performance

– Garth Ruff, Beef Cattle Field Specialist, OSU Extension (originally published in Farm and Dairy)

Quality = not good!

We know that hay quality across much of Ohio is poor this year. Out of 180 samples submitted as part of an OSU eBarns program from 29 counties, only one of those samples met the energy or TDN requirements for a 1200 pound lactating beef cow. For sheep and goats, that means that the forage is poorer yet. As we head towards winter having a plan in place to maintain animals on pasture will be key.

I have these types of discussions with producers fairly often, and usually (not always) supplementing additional energy into the diet seems to aid in rectifying the situation.

As managers we must remember that livestock utilize nutrients in waste not, want not hierarchy. Think of an order of operations where Continue reading Poor Hay Doesn’t Have to Equal Poor Livestock Performance →

Resources for Forage Planning

– Emma Matcham, Ed Brown, Megan Burgess, Ohio State University Extension

As you look forward to 2026 see these resources.

Winter is a great time to focus on planning for next year. Reflecting on last year’s challenges and successes can help improve management for future years, and some 2025 publications may be particularly useful as you prepare for 2026.

Firstly, there is a new article titled “Timely Forage Tips for Ohio” in the . . .

Continue reading Resources for Forage Planning

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Stockpiled Forage, the Backbone of Winter Grazing

– Victor Shelton, Retired NRCS Agronomist/Grazing Specialist

Winter stockpiled fescue provides reliable forage and keeps pastures healthy into spring.

December has a way of bringing the year into focus. By the time the last leaves have blown away, and the pasture has stopped changing from week to week, we finally get a chance to look back and evaluate what the season gave us. Weather patterns across Indiana varied throughout 2025. Some areas received decent moisture; others dealt with dryness or rain that came out of rhythm with forage needs. Even within my own operation, some pastures held up beautifully while others struggled. My forage quality was also precarious. Every year reminds us that the only constant is variability. Even so, winter always arrives, and with it comes the shift from growing forage to managing what we’ve grown.

Stockpiled forage is the backbone of winter grazing, and this year is no different. Tall fescue continues to prove itself as the most reliable winter feed in the Midwest. Its ability to hold nutritional value, stay upright and withstand repeated freeze–thaw cycles is unmatched. Good orchardgrass is worth having, but it should be Continue reading Stockpiled Forage, the Backbone of Winter Grazing →

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Beef Cow Slaughter this Fall is Down 19%

– James Mitchell, Livestock Marketing Specialist, University of Arkansas

The 43-day government shutdown ended on November 13, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is now working through the backlog of data that went unreleased during that period. Of particular importance for cattle markets were the October and November Cattle on Feed numbers, which Josh summarized in last week’s article. USDA has also resumed publishing cattle slaughter data. Weekly total cattle slaughter is now current for the week ending November 29, though slaughter by class of animal lags by two weeks which is normal.

Tracking beef cow slaughter during the second half of the year is a good indicator of the seasonal peak in cow culling that occurs each fall, as well as any signs of early, drought-induced culling. Through November 15, beef cow slaughter totals 2.09 million head, down 18% from Continue reading Beef Cow Slaughter this Fall is Down 19% →

2025 OCA Replacement Female Sale Results

– Garth Ruff, OCA Replacement Female Sale Manager, Beef Cattle and Livestock Marketing Field Specialist, OSU Extension

Strong demand for quality breds led to a record sale!

The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) held their 13th annual Replacement Female Sale on November 28th at the Muskingum Livestock Auction Company in Zanesville, Ohio. A near standing room only crowd was on hand and online to bid on 73 high quality females in the sale. The sale represented an excellent opportunity for cow-calf producers to add quality females with documented breeding and health records to their herds.

Buyers evaluated 73 lots of bred heifers, bred cows, and cow-calf pairs at the auction. The sale included 59 lots of bred heifers that averaged $4,115, 3 cow-calf pairs sold for $4,533, and 11 lots of bred cows that averaged $4,372. The 73 total lots grossed a record $317,00 for an overall average of Continue reading 2025 OCA Replacement Female Sale Results →